Portland Travel Guide

Oregon Zoo to Keep Unnamed Baby Elephant

Due to the unorthodox nature concerning animal care contracts, like the one between Have Trunk Will Travel and the Oregon Zoo, a currently unnamed elephant calf born last week in Portland will stay in the Oregon Zoo for the duration of its life. It's interesting seeing how the companies work with each other, which show a kindred love of animals and is quite refreshing compared to the way many regular businesses work.

An Oregon zoo says it will retain possession of the country's newest baby elephant, a 300-pound female that hasn't yet been named, even though it won't own the animal.

A breeding contract gives ownership of the calf born Friday in Portland to a California for-profit elephant rental company, Have Trunk Will Travel. But the zoo said the elephant will live out her life within its walls.

"It was never in question for this calf," Oregon Zoo director Kim Smith said. "(She) was always going to live here."